Rutherglen mosque leaders vow to help alleviate parking problems

Imam Shahid Babar (left) and Naeem Javed of the Minhaj-ul-Quran centre on Greenhill Road want to work with the community on parking problems (Image: rutherglen reformer)

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Leaders at the Minhaj-ul- Quran International Centre in Rutherglen have vowed to do whatever they can to help solve the traffic crisis on Greenhill Street.

We reported two weeks ago residents of Greenhill Street were unhappy at the volume of traffic visiting the centre, which includes a mosque, especially at prayer time on a Friday.

With parking spaces at a premium, some worshippers parked on pavements, creating potentially dangerous obstacles for pedestrians.

But the Reformer has been approached by the centre who say they are looking into every avenue to help the problem.

Secretary, Naeem Javed, and Imam, Shahid Babar, want to work with their neighbours.

Mr Javed said: “We are actively looking at ideas, maybe we can display traffic cones during prayer times. Every Friday we make an announcement asking people to watch where they park.

“At the shopping centre, for example, it’s 50p for two hours and we encourage people to use that facility.

“It doesn’t seem to matter how much we warn people, there are clearly some who don’t listen.”

Mr Babar added: “When people come here, they have maybe arrived at the last minute and they don’t want to walk. That’s not under our control.

“We had a parking observation officer last year and he stood outside for two hours to look at the situation, but they said they relaxed the rules for two hours because people come to pray.

“But when you have cars right up on the pavement, you are making trouble for pedestrians and that is a concern.”

The pair said the centre will contact police and council about the possibility of putting their own cones out, but the council not be possible.

Head of South Lanarkshire Council’s Roads and Transportation Services, Gordon Mackay, said: “Any request to use traffic cones as a means to try and secure a parking space would be refused. Using them in this way would be inappropriate and confusing for road users.

“Traffic cones are primarily used to inform drivers of roadworks or on some occasions, accidents.

“It is the council’s policy to take a sympathetic approach to parking enforcement in the vicinity of places of worship during their weekly services.

“However, any vehicle causing an obstruction will be given a ticket.”

It’s estimated around 250 people use the centre every Friday from around 12.30pm for prayer.